TC-Class: Parasitic Plagiarism and You

     The art of plagiarism is one many students find themselves running into, sucking the life out of their work and creating chaos. It is a tricky subject, plagiarism is, in that the idea of stealing someone's exact words, phrases, and ideas brings up quarrelsome thoughts to some writers: they are just words and expressions. This is where most incoming students get nailed, and they land on the receiving end of a failing grade, perhaps even expulsion.

      But to plagiarize something is actually quite tricky; to take someone's own words and try to pull them off takes some time to perfect, and, realistically, it is a wasted effort in the fact that he or she gets nothing out of it. No, in college, where ideas are to be expressed in an open, mature manner, it is much simpler, and fun, for the writer to create their own masterpiece of communication and spread it about the campus, possibly attached with a well deserved A.

      To refrain from plagiarism, it is best for the student to understand that everything a published writer brings to a work is by ownership his or her own: words, syntax (the way the words are pieced together), ideas (arguments, stories, logical connections, etc.); and if the work is of fiction, the student writer must remember to attach each bit of dialogue and plot structure into attribution, or giving credit back to the original author (“In the short story 'Apology Accepted,' John J. Lewis illustrates...”).

     MLA, or the Modern Language Association, is a swell group that provides structure and orderliness to the act of attributing a work; their handbooks direct student writers to introduce an author at the start, and follow up by mentioning him or her after each quotation or idea in parenthetical citations (along with a nifty page or paragraph number). When asked not to directly quote though, paraphrasing becomes a tricky obstacle.

     Paraphrasing can be difficult, but remember: it is telling the idea in your own words, still giving all credit back to the author. Located on their website, Purdue OWL states, "Paraphrasing is one way to use a text in your own writing without directly quoting source material. Anytime you are taking information from a source that is not your own, you need to specify where you got that information." Paraphrasing and quotations should be used as needed in order to respectfully attribute back to an author, but every original idea regarding a subject must come from the student. Look at it that the author still needs a reason to get payed for his or her work, and while you might not be payed, you are taking that away from him or her.

      As a student, the average college writer is stepping away from high school and onto bigger, better, less dramatic things, but that means giving credit where credit is due just as a professor would give a high passing grade for the work that student has completed on their own.

      Plagiarism is a parasitic pest; once a student begins to commit it, it will continue to grow in that student, and fester, until finally he or she is caught and removed like a tick, marked forever as a thief of logic. That is not to say that writing strong and logical, original ideas is difficult; rather, it is much easier in that the student writer is creating, bringing life into a piece that no one else has seen before. It is rewarding to see the polished work--the writer's own work--return without someone else stealing the vibes. Any college student, experienced or not, can argue the same.


Purdue OWL on Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing can be found here:
                                      http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/

---Plagiarism:
                                     http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/01/

Just Once

When I first held you, and you cried to me

something fierce, I was too afraid to hold

you, carry you, even set you on me.

I could see how your claw strikes were quite bold.

But with you gone, now, I wish I had known

How we were both scared, and how I was wrong.

At the time with how dependent you were,

Don't jump on me, I would say, nerves shaken.

You didn't deserve the pain you went through.
Yes, that's life, and it can be really tough,
But the adventures you had then show through,
And the pain of your bite made me know enough.

But you're gone now, and I wish that just once

I could feel your claws on my hand—just once.

Dedicated to my cat, Tiger, kneading something somewhere, free of pain. 

Writing from the Prompt

     In college, one of the most important things when it comes to writing is being able to follow directions correctly by understanding what's asked. If a professor states they want a four page minimum and several sources prevalent throughout the piece, then it's best to give them what they ask for; however, essays and summaries are not the only forms of writing that can be prompted.
     I visited the classroom of John Brantingham after work to visit the Creative-Writing Club, a group of writers I haven't worked with before. He wasn't there, taking some time off to recover, but the club was hosted by the president and other coordinators. Walking in late, I slipped into the back, but I found myself added to the activities of introducing ones self and, of course, writing under a timed, prompt restrained setting. We were asked to write creatively, though: fiction and poetry was up for grabs, and I decided on doing the fiction. For the short-story, we had a few restraints written on the board:

•      The Protagonist's name was Amy.
•      Amy worked in a clown store.
•      She was deeply in love with a giraffe handler.
•      Amy had an evil clown stalker.
•      We must use the word "Buck-fumbling" within the literature.

     Once noted, we were asked to write what we could, where we would finish and present our works to the class if we chose to. Pasted below is what I came up with. Buck-fumbling, in the tense I used, is underlined within.

     "Can you tell me why he's following you?" David wiped the sweat off his brow, staring out the bungalow's front window.
     Amy held herself from an unseen breeze. "I'm not sure, but he's everywhere."
     "He can't be everywhere."
     "Yes, he can," she said.
     David turned. The golden giraffe pin, something only given to experienced handlers throughout the year--from what he said--glinted in the young woman's eyes, burning her. It illuminated her split ends into hanging embers of ash.
     "Listen, Amy, you're just tired. You've been working too much."
     She sighed. "And what are you saying?"
     "No one's chasing you out there, is what I mean; no one's hunting you."
     "You don't know. You don't know what I've been through," she said. "The freak watches me sleep. And that makeup."
     David turned to the window once more, palm on the glass with the other hand up.
     "His makeup looks like he buck-fumbled through it."
     "Does it frighten you?" he asked.
     Amy opened her lips, glancing at the handler. She wanted to tell him yes. She wanted to say how she wished David would hold her, letting her cry in his arms, taking away the weeks of hiding in the restroom and tidying a knife beneath her pillow. But, when he turned, her eyes clenched at the reflection of his dulled, misshapen clown nose.

     It isn't much, but it gave me a chance to just let a story come out, and allow the characters to breathe and become their own entities. Working with this novel, The Neptune, has pulled me from that very idea; I feel as though I need to plot so heavily, when I should let the work write itself instead.
     For Mt. Sac students, the club is on Thursdays, 2:30 to 4:00 P.M. and is hosted in 3411 of 26A. I'm personally looking forward to returning. Stop by if you want to give writing a chance!

A New Chapter

     With the last chapter written, I'm happy to say that my work-in-progress horror novel, The Neptune, has its first "book" completed. Yes, this is just the drafting stage, but it's a benchmark for me that I've never felt would ever come.

      One year ago, I had just came out of a dark, dark place in my life, and was working towards recovery in any way I could. School was a part of my life and I couldn't give that up, so I took extra classes to try and stay focused on something physical, rather than worry on something mental. I met an amazing professor who showed me I did have something to add to this world, and she allowed me to meet another professor, a great man who has become my mentor in creative writing.

      Now, that's not to say I'm completely recovered; I still have times where depression kicks in, or I get lonely and afraid. But those are only bumps in the road in comparison to what I've been through; those are only pebbles in comparison to what I have in store for me.

      I have a great job that keeps me on my feet, working hard, and while it can be stressful and draining, I love it so much and wouldn't trade it for anything. I have a plan to get my A.A. and transfer out of my school to CSUSB for their MFA and English program, and I--as of currently--want to become an editor; though, each and every day I find myself interested in becoming a professor at the community college level. And my writing craft keeps me going and knowing that I have a purpose, and I have a voice; I have a way to show the world I can add to it, rather than take, even if it bugs the heck out of me at occasional times.

      The Neptune is at just a slice of the full pie, and I'm planning to add another sixty-five thousand words to it before I get into the revision process. With luck, it'll progress into a great first novel, something I can be really proud of.

      Everything's been a roller-coaster the past two years, but I want to thank each and every one of you that have stood by me, guided me, assisted me, and been there for me when I need them. If this all works out, I dedicate The Neptune to you guys. Just, you know, please don't be turned off that it's a space infection horror story.

Recovering

     Currently, I'm sitting here on my laptop filling my stomach with glasses of orange-juice, listening to the soundtrack of Skyrim, Bethesda's hit video-game, swearing at my word processor for some miracle to plop on the page--me knowing it won't happen, but wishing--and waiting to see what the day will bring me. Colds are fun.
     I see myself to live a healthy lifestyle. Oatmeal, toast, and hashbrowns always win over French-toast for breakfast, and if I get offered a soda, I kindly decline and ask for water. Fitness is my stress-burner. Swimming is something I do not only to keep fit and toned, but to help with my confidence and anxiety. When I'm sick, all of this goes out the window.
     And mentally, I just feel like a brick; it's like my mind wants to work, and knows it's here for some reason, but the only thing it can do is perform simple tasks. Throw me an Algebra book during the flu and I'll look at you like a wet cat. A really wet cat. But not only do I suffer in arithmatic, but my writing seems to take a hit.
     This whole week, I've only touched about 1400 words, something I would do a day and a half. That's such a blow. The character's in my novel have once again become just that: characters.In time, though, things will get better.
     Rest and water have become my best friends, and while I'm disappointed I haven't worked out in over a week, it's for the best. The cold is going away, and once again work and writing will be something I can dive into rather than fear. If I'm lucky, my sickness won't pass to someone in the family and come back to me with open arms: "Hey, buddy, what's up?"
     How do you recover from sickness not only in your body, but in the recovery of any skills or hobbies that have been left behind?

San Gabriel Valley LitFest & Semester Update

     I've decided to come out of my cave for once. Over the weekend I went to the San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival, which is a new event located in West Covina. I dropped by on Saturday, after having my brakes clunk to junk on Thursday, so I wasn't able to make it to the Friday open-mic events. When I got there in the morning after some trouble, 12:15 to be precise--which I guess is noon--I started by going to a literary magazine's reading. The day continued with reading after reading, until finally I made my leave at three for errands. But it was all fantastic.
     This would be my first literary festival outside of regular fandom conventions, and the same feeling of mutual appreciation was there, but focused devotedly on writing and literature. I wish I could have returned for Sunday, so next year I'll be sure to clear it up, and come April when Mt Sac. hosts their writer's conference, I'll be there to socialize and learn--socialization seems to be my weakest point.
     Learning, however, is something I will continue to be doing until that point, with Mt. Sac returning to school next Monday. I only have Math, Literature, and one training course, but I will be tutoring students within the classroom and I'm excited. 
     And as far as my writing goes, with the bumps and bruises along the way, I have several stories revised and ready to ship out. I've been working on a book, too: It's a sci-fi horror story taking place on a large military ship, called The Neptune. I'm taking it slow, learning the process of writing a much larger story, but I'm having fun doing it (or at least I think I do). My chapters run quite a bit short, but I'm not too worried about it right now; the plot is giving me shivers as I go.
     To all those returning to school, good luck, have fun, and drive safely the first few days; being from Mt. Sac, it's easy to see how a parking lot can become a focal point of trauma throughout someone's life.

Friendly Communication: Body, Voice, and Mind

     Communication is an important part of living. Especially as a writer, too. You're going to meet lots of new, and possibly intimidating, people, and whether you're a writer or not, it's best to approach someone in a certain way. Looking at animals, body language is very detrimental to communication; when a dog's in fight-or-flight mode it's teeth are bared, and its hackles are raised. The same thing works with humans. We might not snarl, or raise our necks when angry--scary image, I know--so the question is how do we use our language, spoken and physical, to send a clear message to a peer or co-worker?
     At work, I meet with a lot of students from many different backgrounds. Some are native speakers, and it's easier to communicate, while others can be transfer students from different levels of education--or even different cultures! I try to keep myself open to whatever comes, and keep myself open and friendly.
     Being open and friendly doesn't just mean keeping a smile glued on. It means carrying a certain composure. If I were to walk up to another writer, published or not, things would go much smoother in introductions if I were standing straight, keeping eye contact, and my hands arms were visible at all times; furthermore, if I was to greet them screaming, arms crossed, and possibly one hand behind my back, I could be taken as a threat. Of course it's an exaggeration, but it works.
     When I meet the student, no matter what background, I greet them with my name, a soft, friendly tone, and arms out and seen. I make eye contact, but don't stare into them to find the inner-direction of their soul's desires. Tutoring, I sit down, turned slightly towards them, and I'm a foot away as to not hover on them. If standing, I would be at an angle, as well; sitting or standing directly in front of a person can be seen as off-putting and tense. I don't cross my arms, and if I get comfortable in my chair, I might sit in a relaxed way. Standing comfortably, if that were the situation, you would loosen up and not be so tense.
     To give an example, police-officers crouch low to speak with a child when they're hurt, upset, scared, or just conversing. This puts the officer at level with the child and takes away the image of someone stern and intimidating. Another would be when someone's dealing with an angered person; people can be upset for many reasons, such as the child, but speaking with open posture and gestures, and a soft tone (not too soft, though. You don't want to come off as condescending), the situation could be lowered into an understanding discussion of the situation.
     I was tutoring a student today, and with her final draft due the following week, she was stressed for perfection. It's common to see these situations. It's even more common to see it when the paper is due the next day, so I came into the session letting her know we had time to work on it. I kept my tone soft, and I pulled myself away from the tutoring sheet and red pen (I would go back to take notes, but a red pen is something we all know as a horrible thing inflicted on us in grade school, so space worked out there). The situation was lowered, but she was stressed that her examples in the paper spoke on their own, not needing discussion to explain. I grew comfortable, so I lifted my legs onto the chair, sitting on my thigh.
     "With essays," I started, "the reader's coming in for information."
     She didn't look at me, but she stared at her essay.
     "In fiction, the reader works to use their imagination and put themselves in the story. Here, however, we want to do the opposite and show the readers step by step how this example relates to everything."
     "But it should stand on its own," she said.
     I discussed it further with some examples, and she had a better understanding. The situation would have been much more stressful if I raised my tone and did something as simple as turned away, or crossed my arms.
     Having open body language and a friendly outflow of discussion creates positive socialization. The use of negative tone, raised volume, or acting intense, direct, and even mean can have repercussions whether in simple speech or professional settings. This works with writing as well, but without the use of body-language; the tone and direction you take in communication is what your audience will use to assess the situation. Whether you're working on campus with just-as-stressed students, or at home with your parents, communicating in a outflow of positive vibes can make even the most direct and negative situations into something approachable.